Alan Pardew hasn't responded with a quick fix in the centre. Instead, he will use the newly created funds to land a player who has been consistently linked with a move to St. James' Park in recent weeks, as noted by Charles Perrin of the Daily Express.

De Jong is yet to start a game or score this season, but he has made 13 substitute appearances for Lucien Favre's team, per WhoScored.

Remarkably, despite possessing an energetic work rate and particular talent at winning headers, the out-of-favour player has mustered just two attempts at goal all campaign, recorded by ESPN FC.

Newcastle already play host to a duo of attacking players who have failed to do the business this season, namely Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse.

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The former remains an enigma with three goals and an array of frustratingly wasteful performances, while the previously prolific Cisse appears to have lost his touch with just one strike in the Premier League this campaign.

Loic Remy and Yoan Gouffran remain the club's most potent threats, scoring 11 and six goals in England's top flight respectively.

At 23 years old, De Jong has plenty of developing to do. Bleacher Report UK guest columnist and talkSPORT presenter Stan Collymore believes he has limited potential in the Premier League:

Saw Luk de Jong v Fulham for Twente in EL and monitored his progress.
A 10 goal a season Prem man max IMO.

He can be considered an outside shout for the Netherlands' World Cup squad, but will need to consistently hit the back of the net if he is to make Louis van Gaal's selection for the tournament in Brazil.